Tuning-peg for musical instruments



(No Model.)

B. 1-. FLEMMINGS, Jr.

TUNING PEG FOR MUsIGAL INSTRUMENTS. No. 293,729. Patented Feb. 19,1884.

.Fig. 6'. 7 Fa 5 Fig. 5'.

' minesses: I mentor:

UNrrED STATES PATENT Grates.

ROBERT F. FLEMMINGS, JR, OF MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES LANIJON SPRAGUE, OF SAME PLACE.

TUNING-PEG FOR MUSEGAL lNETRUMEh'TS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 293,729, dated February 19, 188%. Application filed June 21, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT F. Fmumrmes, J12, of Melrose, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in String-Tensi on Pegs for Musical Instruments, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

I11 the manufacture of violins and similar musical instruments where string-tension pegs are used, it has become the general custom to use a simple conical peg driven into a conical hole in the head of the instrument, creating thereby a friction, upon which the musician is obliged to rely to hold the string at the proper tension after tuning, but in this style of peg a difficulty is found to exist, especially after having been in use a short time, from the fact that it becomes loosened and allows the string to slacken, causing much trouble.

To obviate this diiliculty is the object of my present invention; and it consists in certain combinations and arrangements of parts and in certain details of construction, which will readily be understood by reference to the de scription of the drawings and to the claims to be hereinafter given.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan of the head of a violin with my improved pegs applied thereto. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a section of the same cut through one of the pegs. Fig. 4i. represents a sectional elevation of the peg,the section being taken on line a? Figs. 5 and (3 represent modifications ot my improved peg which will be more fully described.

A is the head of a violin or other similar izr strunient and B the neck of same.

On the upper side of the head A is the cavity C, across which, at stated intervals, are placed the pegs D, which have hearings in the vertical walls a a of the head A. The peg I) is made up of the head 6, shank c, and sleeve (7. The shank c is square in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 4, and has the sleeve (1 firmly driven thereon at its interior end,whi1e the head I) is loosely fitted upon its exterior end in such a manner that it may be moved lengthwise, but will rotate the shank c, and with it the sleeve (2, when it itself is rotated. The object of this construc- Q tion will be more fully described farther on in the specification.

The shank c is provided at either end with the screws 0 and f, to the former of which is fitted the nut turning which brings the shoulder h of the head Z) firmly against the vertical side of the head A.

In order that the head A may not be injured by the clamping and turning, the washer i is placed upon the shank 0, (but in such a manner that it will not revolve with it,) between the vertical side of the head A and the shoulder 1 of the head 1), thereby causing all the wear to come between the washer 71 and the head I), which wear can beat any time taken up by tightening the nut fitted to the screw 0.

Between the nut] and the head A are placed two washers, 7; and Z, the washer It being placed loosely on the sleeve (Z, so that it will not revolve with it, while the washer Z is fitted to the shank c, revolving therewith, and thus taking all of the wear. The sleeve (Z is made shorter than the width of the narrowest heads, in order that the peg may be accommodated to heads of different widths by moving the head Z) length wise of the shank c, and then screwing the nut 1 against it to hold it firmly in position. In some cases it is preferable to provide the shank 0 with a female thread, into which a clamping screw or bolt engages, as is shown in Fig. Where the heads of different instruments vary but slightly in thickness, the shank 0 and head I) may be made in one piece of metal, shown in Fig. 6, or the sleeve (1, shank c, and head 0 may all be made in one piece, without altering the principle of niy invention; but I prefer the construction first shown, as it is readily adjustable at all times and for all purposes.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The sleeve (1 is driven onto the shank 0, so as to rotate therewith, leaving said shank extend ing outward at the inner end of the peg a distance about equal to half the thickness of the washer Z. The shank and sleeveare then placed through the opening made for the purpose in the head A, with the sleeve (2 extending beyond the vertical wall a a distance somewhat less than the thickness of the washer 7;. The washer i and head 7) are then placed on the opposite end of the shank c, and fastened in their proper position by the nut g. The washers 7S 7' and Z are then placed in their respective posi tions and the whole clamped by nut j. The string (not shown) is then fastened to the peg by the means of the hole m, which extends through sleeve (1 and shank 0, and the head I) is then turned until the string is of a proper tension, when, if there is any tendency to give under the strain brought to bear upon the peg, another turn of the nut 1 will make any loosening impossible. The sleeve (1 is preferably made of wood, and placed firmly upon the shank 0, but may be made in one piece with the shank without altering the principle of my invention.

In banjos, guitars, and similar instruments, where the heads Z) are underneath the head A of the instrument, the upper end of the peg is made with a shoulder, and the clamping is done by means of nut g acting upon the head I), through the medium of screw 0, thus clamping the head A between the shoulders.

The advantages of my improvement are ob vious, and therefore need not be further mentioned.

YVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A peg for tightening the strings of musical instruments, consisting of the shank c, the sliding head I), the screws 0 and f, and the nuts 9 and 71 all adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. A peg for tightening the strings of musical instruments, consisting of the shank c, the slid ing head I), the screws cf, the nuts gj, and the washers i 75 Z, all adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. A peg for tightening the strings of musical instruments, consisting of the head Z), shank c. screw f, nut j and sleeve d, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two sub scribing witnesses, on this 19th day of June, A. D. 1883.

OBERT F. FLEMMINGS, JR. 

